Combined rifle and grenade launcher



July 25, 1967 Filed Dec. 22, 1965 W. E. MARTWICK ETAL.

COMBINED RIFLE AND GRENADE LAUNCHER FIG. I

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

INVENTORS WILFORD E. MARTWICK DUANE C. YOUMANS BY /2w ATTORNEY y 25, 1967 w. E. MARTWICK ETAL 3,332,162

COMBINED RIFLE AND GRENADE LAUNCHER Filed Dec. 22, 1965 5 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTORS WILFORD E. MARTWICK Y DUANE c. YOUMANS 7801/ f/Zw ATTORN Y y 25, 1967 w. E. MARTWICK ETAL 3,332,162

COMBINED RIFLE AND GRENADE LAUNCHER Filed Dec. 22, 1965 a SheeW-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WILFORD E. MARTWICK BY DUANE C. YOUMANS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,332,162 COMBINED RIFLE AND GRENADE LAUNCHER Wilford E. Martwick, Minneapolis, and Duane C. Youmans, Eden Prarie, Minn., assignors to Honeywell Inc, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 526,647 6 Claims. (Cl. 421) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a combined rifle and grenade launcher. Mechanical means are provided whereby the rifle operator can convert the rifle to a grenade launcher.

This invention pertains to a dual purpose weapon and more particularly to a weapon capable of firing both a point round and area projectile. For purposes of this specification the term point round is defined as a conventional round containing one or more essentially solid projectiles (e.g., a rifle bullet) and the term area projectile includes grenades, explosive projectiles, artillary shells, flares and the like.

There have been many prior art designs of this type of weapon. Many of the dual purpose weapons attach the area projectile launcher mechanism to a conventional rifle in such a manner that the only means available for disabling it is the removal of the entire mechanism. There is absolutely no provision in these designs for using the dual weapon as a point round weapon (rifle) only.

Other design attempts attempted to solve the problem of utilizing a dual weapon as either a point round weapon or an area projectile weapon at the option of the operator. One such attempt is illustrated in US. Patent 1,816,265, Savani, wherein the entire area projectile launcher mechanism must be rotated about the rifle band by the operator so as to be displaced along screw threads to the desired position. This, of course, is a very slow and undesirable approach.

The applicants, however, have solved this problem by providing a dual purpose weapon having mechanical means which allow the weapon operator to easily and quickly select the mode of operation of the weapon. In one particular embodiment, the applicants invention comprises a modification of an M-16 rifle by attaching an area projectile barrel to the rifle barrel. For purposes of this specification the term area projectile barrel is defined as an area projectile launching barrel. Valve means are mounted upon the rifle proximate the breech mechanism. The valve means are operable in a first position to place the rifle barrel in fluid communication with the area projectile barrel and in a second position to prevent fluid communication therebetween. Mechanical means are connected to the valve means so that the operator, by slight movement thereof, places the valve means in the first position whereby a point round and an area projectile are fired simultaneously. The mechanical means may also be displacedso as to place the valve means in the second position whereby only a point round is fired.

With the applicants unique dual purpose weapon, the area projectile may be loaded at all times and fired at will by merely positioning the valve means in the first position by slight displacement of the mechanical means. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the applicants dual purpose weapon results in only a slight modification to the M-16 rifle. It causes a Weight increase of only one pound and will not detract from the handling qualities of the rifle. The applicants design also allows rapid reloading of area projectiles.

The scope of the applicants invention will become apparent from a study of the accompanying specification 'ice and claims in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the applicants dual purpose weapon; 1

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the area projectile barrel; g FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valve means; FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the me chanical means for selecting the mode of operation of the dual purpose weapon; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the valve means. Referring now to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 generally depicts the applicants dual purpose weapon. In this particular embodiment, the point round weapon comprises an M-16 rifle 11 having a barrel 12 and a breech mechanism 13. The M-16 rifle is, of course, operable to fire a point round. The applicants invention is not limited to any particular type of rifle.

The conventional hand guard of the M-16 is replaced with a modified hand guard 15 which includes the area projectile launching mechanism 20. Area projectile launching mechanism 20 comprises an area barrel 21 hinged to rifle barrel 12 at pivot 22. An area barrel breech block 23 is attached to rifle barrel 12 in a position contiguous to the left end of area barrel 21 as viewed in FIGURE 1. Area barrel 21 is latched in its operating position (FIG- URE 1) substantially parallel with rifle barrel 12 by means of a latch member 24 which co-acts with breech block 23. Latch member 24 is held in the latched posi tion by detant block 25.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, area barrel 21 is easily pivoted to the loading position by unlatching latch mem ber 24 and rotating area barrel 21 about pivot 22. An area projectile 27 is also illustrated in FIGURE 2. It should be noted that area projectile 27 has an obturator band 28 thereon which prevents the escape of gases supplied to the area barrel 21 as will be explained hereinafter. Obturator band 28 also functions to hold area propositioned in a chamber 38 therein (see FIGURE 3).

Piston 37 is biased in a first position in FIGURE 3 by spring means 39. A connecting rod 40 is attached to piston means 37 at one end thereof. Chamber 38 of valve means 35 is in fluid communication with rifle barrel 12 by means of conduits 42 and 43. Chamber 38 is in fluid communication with area barrel 21 by means of a conduit 44. Chamber 38 is in fluid communication with breech mechanism 13 by means of fluid conduit 45 in this particular embodiment. This communication is only necessary because the M1 6 is a gas operated rifle. When a non-gas operated rifle is utilized in tht applicants unique dual purpose weapon conduits 42 and 45 are not necessary. As is clear from FIGURE 3, when piston 37 is the first position as shown, it prevents fluid communication between rifle barrel 12 and area barrel 21. However, fluid communication is allowed between rifle barrel 12 and breech mechanism so as to allow operation of the M16 rifle in a conventional point round mode of operation.

Connecting rod 40 is connected on one end to piston 37 and on the other end to a connecting rod handle 41. 7

Connecting rod handle 41 is positioned contiguous to rifle barrel 12. It is illustrated in FIGURE 4. Connecting rod handle 41 collectively define mechanical means connected to valve means 35 for operation thereof. As

previously indicated, when piston 37 is biased in the first Patented July 25, 1957 position dual purpose weapon 1!! functions as a conventional rifle firing a point round. Operating rod handle 41 is illustrated in the first position in FIGURE 4. The operator of dual purpose weapon 10 can change the mode of operation thereof merely by slightly displacing operating rod handle 41 so as to overcome the biasing effect of spring 39 and position valve means 35 in the second position.

FIGURE illustrates valve means 35 in the second position. In the second position, rifle barrel 12 is in fluid communication with area barrel 21 through conduit 43, chamber 38 and conduit 44. A different mechanical means 50 is connected to valve means 35 in FIGURE 5. Mechanical means 50 comprises a connecting rod 51 attached to one end of piston 37 on one end and on the other end to a trigger member 52. Trigger member 52 is located contiguous to the trigger 53 of rifle 11. The operator can change the mode of operation by merely displacing trigger 52.

Dual purpose weapon operates in the following manner. Assume that a point round is loaded in rifle 11. Latch member 24 is forced forward (away from the operator of dual purpose weapon) so as to unlatch area barrel 21. Area barrel 21 is pivoted about pivot 22 into the loading position and an area projectile, such as 27, is positioned within the area barrel 21. Area barrel 21 is pivoted back to the operating position substantially parallel to rifle barrel 12. Latch member 24 is forced rearwardly (towards the operator) into breech block 23 and is locked by locking means 25. At this point, valve means 35 is biased in the first position and the dual purpose weapon can be utilized as a conventional rifle firing a point round. The area projectile can be carried loaded in area barrel 21 for as long as desired while utilizing the dual purpose weapon as a conventional rifle.

When it is desired to fire the area projectile the operator of the dual purpose weapon slightly displaces operating rod handle 41 (or trigger 52) by pulling it towards himself and holding it in this position. This displaces piston means 37 to the second position and places rifle barrel 12 and area barrel 21 in fluid communication. The point round is then fired from rifle 11 and generates expanding gases behind the point round. A portion of the gas generated by the point round is supplied to the area barrel 21 through conduit 43, chamber 38 and conduit 44. The breech of area barrel 21 is sealed by O ring 29 and obturator band 28 of the area projectile. Consequently, the portion of the gas supplied from rifle barrel 12 to area barrel 21 is sufficient to fire (propel) the area projectile out of area barrel 21. Area barrel 21 can then be reloaded in the manner described above.

Thus the applicants have provided a unique dual purpose weapon wherein the operator can quickly and easily select the mode of operation of the weapon. This is accomplished by utilizing valve means which can be enclosed in a first position or a second position by mechanical means connected thereto. The applicants dual purpose weapon allows the operator to carry the area barrel loaded at all times and to fire it by merely displacing his hand on the hand guard so as to displace the mechanical means.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment of this invention, further modification and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. We desire to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and we intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the scope of this invention.

We We claim is:

1. A dual purpose weapon including a rifle having a barrel and breech mechanism and adapted to fire a point round in combination with:

(a) an area barrel hinged upon the rifle barrel, said area barrel being adapted to be latched in a operating position substantially parallel with said rifle barrel, said area barrel being further adapted to be pivoted to a loading position so that an area projectile may be positioned therein;

(b) valve means mounted upon said rifle barrel proximate the breech mechanism, said valve means being operable in a first position to prevent fluid communication between said rifle barrel and said area barrel, said valve means being operable in a second position to place said rifle barrel in fluid communication with said area barrel; and

(c) mechanical means connected to said valve means, said mechanical means being operable to place said valve means in the second position whereby the point round and the area projectile are fired simultaneously.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said mechanical means comprises a connecting rod attached to said valve means and a connecting rod handle positioned contiguous to said rifle barrel.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a slideable piston biased in the first position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein recoil links are connected between said area barrel and said breech mechanism.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve means comprises a slideable piston biased in the first position and said connecting rod is attached to said piston.

6. A dual purpose weapon including a rifle having a barrel and breech mechanism and adapted to fire a point round in combination with:

(a) an area barrel mounted upon the rifle barrel substantially parallel with said rifle barrel;

(b) valve means mounted upon said rifle barrel proximate the breech mechanism, said valve means including a slideable piston means biased in a first position to prevent fluid communication between said rifle barrel and said area barrel, said piston means being operable in a second position to place said rifle barrel in fluid communication with said area barrel; and

(c) mechanical means including a connecting rod connected to said piston means, said mechanical means further including means attached to said connecting rod for displacement thereof whereby said piston means is placed in the second position and the point round and the area projectile are fired simultaneously.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DUAL PURPOSE WEAPON INCLUDING A RIFLE HAVING A BARREL AND BREECH MECHANISM AND ADAPTED TO FIRE A POINT ROUND IN COMBINATION WITH: (A) AN AREA BARREL HINGED UPON THE RIFLE BARREL, SAID AREA BARREL BEING ADAPTED TO BE LATCHED IN A OPERATING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID RIFLE BARREL, SAID AREA BARREL BEING FURTHER ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED TO A LOADING POSITION SO THAT AN AREA PROJECTILE MAY BE POSITIONED THEREIN; (B) VALVE MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID RIFLE BARREL PROXIMATE THE BREECH MECHANISM, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN A FIRST POSITION TO PREVENT FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID RIFLE BARREL AND SAID AREA BARREL, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN A SECOND POSITION TO PLACE SAID RIFLE BARREL IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID AREA BARREL; AND 